Desiccant multi-duel hot air/water air conditioning system

Abstract

An apparatus and method is disclosed for an improved air conditioning system for admitting air from an exterior space, adjusting the temperature and humidity of the exterior air, delivering the adjusted air to an interior space of a structure, removal of exhaust air therefrom and return of the exhaust air to the exterior space and wherein a regenerative desiccant is provided for removing water vapor from the air to be delivered to the interior space and delivering the water vapor to the exhaust air stream and a heat exchanger is provided for removing sensible heat4 from the air to be delivered to the interior space and transferring the sensible heat to the exhaust air stream. The apparatus combines for the first time electric air conditioning reheat and solar energy with desiccant technology, thereby furnishing conditioned air at an 80% reduction fo energy cost. The apparatus for the first time allows the use of waste oil heat to furnish conditioned air at an 80% reduction in energy cost. Additionally, natural gas or propane gas may be used at a great reduction in erngy cost vs. electrical cost. The apparatus allows the reduction in electrical power presently used to condition air for use in a give space.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An improved air conditioning system for admitting air from a space, adjusting the temperature and humidity of the air, and delivering the adjusted air to an interior space of a structure, comprising: a first path for conditioning air including a first air intake means for admitting air to be conditioned;   an air supply first blower means communicating with said first air intake means for receiving, pressurizing and moving the air from said first air intake means;   a precooling heat exchanger coil for precooling the air received from the first air intake means;   a desiccant wheel rotatable through a first zone and second zone, the first zone communicating with said air supply first blower means and receiving the precooled air from said exterior air supply first blower means for reducing the humidity by means of reducing the water vapor content of the air passing therethrough;   a recooling heat exchanger coil for cooling the air with reduced water vapor content from said desiccant wheel for downwardly adjusting the temperature of air displaced therethrough to thereby maintain the absolute humidity of the air at the region after the recooling coil as the region prior to the recooling coil;   a humidifier coil to add moisture to the recooled air;   a conditioned first air exit means communicating with said humidifier coil for receiving the temperature and humidity adjusted air from said humidifier coil and communicating with the interior space of a structure for delivery thereto;   a second path independent of the first path for indirect evaporative cooling of air including a second air intake means for accepting air;   a second air blower means for receiving and moving air through the second path;   a second air exit means communicating with said second air blower means for receiving second air from said second air blower means and communicating with the exterior of the structure for delivery of the second air thereto;   a cooling tower pad in the second path with an output feed line and pump coupled to the input of the precooling coil and recooling coil and an input return line coupled to the output of the precooling coil and recooling coil;   a third path, independent of the first path and second path for regeneration of desiccant air including a third air intake means, condenser coil, hot water coil and blower associated therewith and the second zone of said desiccant wheel wherein said desiccant wheel communicates with said regenerated third air intake means for regeneration of said desiccant wheel by transfer of water vapor and subsequent removal; and   a third regeneration air exit means communicating with said second zone of said desiccant wheel for receiving regeneration air from said second zone of said desiccant wheel.   
     
     
       2. An improved air conditioning system for admitting air from a space, adjusting the temperature and humidity of the air, delivering the adjusted air to an interior space of a structure, a first path for conditioning air including a first air intake means for admitting air to be conditioned;   an air supply first blower means communicating with said first air intake means for receiving, pressurizing and moving the air from said first air intake means;   a precooling heat exchanger coil for precooling the air received from the first air intake means;   a desiccant wheel rotatable through a first zone and second zone, the first zone communicating with said air supply first blower means and receiving the precooled air from said exterior air supply first blower means for reducing the humidity by means of reducing the water vapor content of the air passing therethrough;   a recooling heat exchanger coil for cooling the air with reduced water vapor content from said desiccant wheel for downwardly adjusting the temperature of air displaced therethrough to thereby maintain the absolute humidity of the air at the region after the recooling coil as the region prior to the recooling coil;   a humidifier coil to add moisture to the recooled air;   a conditioned first air exit means communicating with said humidifier coil for receiving the temperature and humidity adjusted air from said humidifier coil and communicating with the interior space of a structure for delivery thereto;   a second path independent of the first path and remote therefrom for indirect evaporative cooling of air including a second air intake means for accepting air;   a second air blower means for receiving and moving air through the second path;   a second air exit means communicating with said second air blower means for receiving saturated second air from said second air blower means and communicating with the exterior of the structure for delivery of the second air thereto;   a cooling tower with a pad in the second path with an output feed line and pump coupled to the input of the precooling coil and recooling coil and an input return line coupled to the output of the precooling coil and recooling coil and terminating at a water sprinkler for the flow of water over the cooling tower pad into a cool water storage therebeneath;   a third path, independent of the first path and second path for regeneration of desiccant air including a third air intake means, condenser coil, hot water coil and blower associated therewith and the second zone of said desiccant wheel wherein said desiccant wheel communicates with said regenerated third air intake means for regeneration of said desiccant wheel by transfer of water vapor and subsequent removal; and   a third regeneration air exit means communicating with said second zone of said desiccant wheel for receiving regeneration air from said second zone of said desiccant wheel.   
     
     
       3. An improved air conditioning system for admitting air, adjusting the temperature and humidity of the air, and delivering the adjusted air to an interior space of a structure comprising: a first path for conditioning air including a first air intake means for admitting air to be conditioned;   an air supply first blower means communicating with the first air intake means for receiving, pressurizing and moving the air from the first air intake means;   a desiccant means movable through a first zone and second zone, the first zone communicating with the air supply first blower means and receiving the pressurized air moved by the exterior air supply first blower means for reducing the humidity by means of reducing the water vapor content of the air passing therethrough;   a heat exchanger means having a first area for accepting heat and a second area for rejecting heat, wherein the first area of the heat exchanger means communicates with the desiccant means for receiving the air with reduced water vapor content from the desiccant means for downwardly adjusting the temperature of air displaced therethrough;   a conditioned first air exit means communicating with the heat exchanger means for receiving the temperature and humidity adjusted air and communicating with the interior space of a structure for delivery thereto;   a second path independent of the first path including a second air intake means with the second area of the heat exchanger thereadjacent wherein the accepted air passes over the second area and removes heat from the second area of the heat exchanger means;   a second air blower means for receiving and moving air from the second area of the heat exchanger means;   a second air exit means communicating with the second air blower means for receiving second air from the second air blower means;   a third path, independent of the first path and second path for regeneration of desiccant air including a third air intake means, a heater associated therewith and the second zone of the desiccant means wherein the desiccant means communicates with the regenerated third air intake means for regeneration of the desiccant means; and   a third regeneration air exit means communicating with the second zone of the desiccant means for receiving regeneration air from the second zone of the desiccant means for delivery of the regeneration air thereto.